Former footballer has legs amputated after horror hit and run crash

A hit and run driver left a former Newmarket Town footballer fighting for his life following a crash on Friday.

Twenty-seven-year-old Shaun Whiter remains seriously ill in Addenbrooke’s hospital following surgery to amputate both his legs below the knee.

Also seriously injured in the incident in Newmarket’s Dullingham Road was Shaun’s friend, and Newmarket Town footballer, Joey Abbs, 30, who sustained serious crush injuries to his right leg.

The families of both men are now appealing for anyone with information about the incident to come forward and contact the police as soon as possible.

Joey’s brother, Mark, said Joey had been heading back into Newmarket from the Dullingahm direction when his Vauxhall Astra got a puncture forcing him to pull up on the side of the road. He had called his friend Shaun, who lives in Burrough Green, to come and give him a hand. Shaun drove out to help in his black BMW 320 which he parked behind the Astra. “Both cars had their hazard lights on and Shaun was wearing a high viz vest,” said Mark. At around 10.55pm, a Ford Focus, also heading towards Newmarket, smashed into the back of the two stationary cars causing terrible injuries both men. It then drove off in the direction of the town.

The East Anglian Air Ambulance brought a trauma team from Addenbrooke’s hospital to the scene who stabilised the casualties before they were taken to hospital by land ambulance.

Jessica Way, sister of Shaun’s fiancee Charlotte said: “It was touch and go whether Shaun would survive. The staff at Addenbrooke’s have been fantastic and we have had tremendous support from everyone since the incident.

“Whoever it was knew they had hit someone because Shaun heard them in the car and we would appeal to anyone with any information to get in touch with Cambridgeshire police as soon as possible.

“Shaun was a very keen sportsman and as well as playing football took part in triathlon and had completed a charity cycle ride from London to Paris to raise money for autistic children,” said Jessica. “He and Charlotte got engaged in April and are due to get married in Burrough Green next July.”

Anyone with information or who witnessed the collision is asked to call police on 101 and speak to a member of the Road Policing Unit. Alternatively people with information can call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or visit https://crimestoppers-uk.org